Improvement in riveting-machines



5 Sh'ets--Sheet l.

3.11. TwEnnELL. Biveting-Machine.

Patented June 29,1875.

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Patented June 29,1875..

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Wil/1 egises YZJ THE GRAPHIC CDJHOTO -LITMJQJ PARK PLACEJLY.

`RALPH n. 'rn-TEDDELL, or SUNDEELAND, enEAr EnrrAiN, AsSrGNoE To wiLLrAM SELLERS, `or rHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HWPROVEMENT IN RIVETlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [65,135. dated J une 29, 1875; application filed Y J une 26, 1872.

To all whom it may concern.'

"Be it known that I, RALPH HART TWEE- DELL, of Sunderland, in the county of Durham, England, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Riveting, Punching, and Shearing Metal, of Which invention the following is a specification:

Prior to the date of my invention riveting has been done by machinery. In the firstknown machines the riveting-die Was actuated either by a crank or a cam, so that the traverse of the die Was uniform, and determined by this driving mechanism, and vthe rivet, whether large or small', long or short, was compressed to the same length. Sometimes, therefore, the rivet did not fill the hole; sometimes the plates to be riveted were strained. The Work was performed by gradualv compression, in itself desirable, but the uniform traverse, operating upon irregular quantities in the rivet, failed to produce. regular Work. l

In the next machine steam was employed to act directly upon a large piston which carried the riveting-die. rIhe riveting was done by a single blow, the shock of which was destructive to the machine, and liable to damage some classes of work, but the traverse was determined by the performance of the Work, so that, with irregular quantities in the rivet-,regular work could be produced.

In the next machine hydraulic pressure was employed to act directly upon a compressingpiston which carried the riveting-die, but in all of these hydraulic machines, prior to my invention, a pump was employed to produce th e pressure in the compressin g-cylinder, which cylinder was in communication with the pumpchamber through valve which was opened by the fluid Whenever the pressure in the pumpchamber exceeded that in the cylinder; consequently the eompressing-piston which carried the die Was moved only when the pump moved to` force the Huid through this valve, and rested when the pump Was taking Water for its next stroke. Hence the die might be stationary, While a rivet Was but partially headed. Moreover the compressing piston and die did vnot move at the Will of the operator, but with the motion of the pump, which might be want ot' means to determine the latter pro-l duced irregular results.

By my invention I combine in one machine all of the advantages, While avoiding all of the difficulties, which have characterized previous machine systems-that is to say, I compress Without a blow, and with a uniform pressure, modifying this pressure at vvill;l I

drive each rivet With a single progressive movement, controlling this movement at will; I maintain the pressure upon the rivet after it is driven, or retract the riveting-die at will; and to this combination I add features of construction not heretofore found in any rivetingmachine.

The machine consists of a riveting-die and a holder, one or the other attached to and moved by a piston in a cylinder,` which I call the compressing-cylinder, this cylinder communicating with an accumulator through any- 'proper known valve, not self-acting,but moved by the operator, and its construction and combination with the compressingcylinder and the accumulator being such that Whenathe valve is opened the piston to which the die or the holder is attached invariably moves until the rivet is headed, with a force that is positively defined by the pressure in the accumulator. Hence the Work isperformed Without a blow; the pressure is uniform whether the rivets are long or short; it can be modified by the weight applied to the accumulator; it is continuous for each rivet, and may be maintained as long as desired, or the riveting-die can be retracted as soon as the rivet is 1inished, whether the pump is taking water, delivering it, or at rest.

In all riveting-machines there must be a die and a holderythe one acting upon one end,

' ICEO their passages.

the other upon the other end, of the rivet. The holder is usually stationary, and the die approaches it; but both or either of them may be movable.

The accumulator is a chamber of variable capacity, in which wateryis kept under pressure by means of a pump, or otherwise, such chamber being usually closed at one end by'a head, and at the other by a stufn g-box, through which a weighted piston-rod rises or falls as the quantity ot' waterin the chamber increases or diminishes; or the piston is stationary, and the chamber, properly weighted, rises and falls with the varying quantity ot' water. In the latter case the two ends ot' the chamber are sometimes provided with stuffing-boxes, through which the piston-rod or plunger plays freely. rlhe upper part otl this rod is smaller than the lower part, and the displacement in the chamber is proportioned to the difference in diameter between the upper and lower parts of the stationary plunger or piston-rod.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a portable riveting apparatus upon a plane passing through the axes of the compressing and retracting cylinders, the riveting die and holder, and the ball-and- 'socket supports; Fig. 2, aplan of the same;

Fig. 3, a front elevation; Fig. 4, a rear elevathe retrac'ting-cylinder, to show the lposition of the induction ,and4 eduction valves with Fig. 13 is a cross-section of the same in the plane of the axes of the valves, and Fig. 14 is a section of the coupling-joint, whereby the supply and exhaust pipes are connected to the respective valve-passages. Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of an accumulator, showing the diii'erential plunger in full. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section of the lower end of the differential plunger and its supply and delivery pipes with the joint-connections. Fig. 17 is a plan of one of the semicircular weights of the accumulator..

In the drawings, a represents the compressin g-cylinder, and C the piston ot the same. h

is the retracting-cylinder, and h its piston. b is the valve-case; b1, the inlet, and b2 the outlet valve; il, the inlet, and i2 the outlet, passage between the valves and the compressingcylinder 5 c', the inlet pipe or passage between the accumulator and the chamber of the inletvalve. From this chamber a branch, p, leads to the retracting-cylinder, so that 'whatever pressure is employed to work the riveter will be exerted continuously upon the retracting-y 'i3 is the outlet passage and pipe from the ma` chine. Upon one side of the valve-case b, Fio. 4, a lever, m, is provided, having its fulcrum between the two valve-stelns b1 and b2, so that moving the handle ot' this lever toward or from the valve-case will raise the induction or eduction valve at the will of the operator, while a spring pressing upon the two opposite ends of thel valve-stems, and secured to the valve-easel) between the valve-stems, serves to seat either valve when the pressure from the lever upon the opposite end of the stem is removed. rlhe valve-stems' pass out of the case through suitable packings, and I prefer so to proportion the areas of the opposite stems as to give a closing tendency to the valve when there is a fluid pressure in the valve-case.

In the preferred construction the compressing-cylinder a has two projections upon its exterior, through which the connecting-rods g vg pass, and are adjustable therein by means of their screwed ends and the nuts q q q q', the outer ends of these rods being enlarged cylindrically to receive the pin k', which, passing through the ends of the rods g g, and the lever d', attach this lever and the` cylinder a firmly together, but in such manner that the lever can vibrate about the connecting-pin,

and its distance from the compressing-cylin-- der can be adjusted.

Upon the outer end ot' the compressing-piston C two projections or lugs, C C', with the pin 7s, serve to connect this piston with the lever d., in such manner that the lever can vibrate about the connecting-pin, but its distance from the piston G is fixed. One end of the pin 7c is'provided with a head, l, so formed as to partially embrace the rod g, and the opposite end, projecting through the lug C', is provided with a washer, Z, formed like the head of the pin, the two serving to maintain the axis of the piston C and the axes of the rods g g in the same plane. secured to the pin k by means ot' a small pin, which passes through both. The corresponding ends of the levers l and d' are provided with ball-and-soclret supports e and c, to ma-intain these ends of the levers a suitable dis'- tance apart, which distance must be varied to suit the different thicknesses of work to be riveted. These supports should be m. intained in contact, or nearly so, so that the opposite ends of the levers alone shall move toward and from each other as the pins la and la are made to approach and recede from each other, and .for this purpose a small cord or strap is sufficient, which may be secured in any convenient manner to the ends of the two levers. The opposite ends of the levers d and d are provided with the socket-dies j' and f', one ot' which is the die, and the other the holder, between which the rivet is to be compressed.

The machine may be suspended conveniently in any position by means of the rings t The washer l is tt t, which are securely attached to the projections upon the compressing-cylinder, and to both ends of the pin k'.

To prevent oscillation, an apparatus shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3 may be conveniently employed, in which S represents a frame-Work attached to the connecting-rods g g, and projecting beyond the work to be operated upon, so that a pin, w, attached to its outer end by the nut n, may carry a roller, r, which has a free motion in the direction of and about the axis of the pin. This roller is -covered with india-rubber or other elastic material, and is adjusted to rest against the Work. l

The fluid-pressure requiredto operate this machine is derived, as before stated, from an accumulator, by varying the `Weights upon which the pressure may be graduated. This portion ofthe apparatus is shown in Fig. 15, and consists of a circular base-plate, A, hav ing tvvo standards, B B, which are connected together'at the top by the cross-piece E, through the center of which a hole is provided to receive the upper end of the dilerential plunger or piston F. The lower end of this plunger is supported'and centered in a conical seat in the center of the base-plate A, and it consists of a circular shaft of two different diameters, proportioned to the amount of displacement required, the lower end being the largest. This plunger is surrounded by.' a strong cylinder, G, which is provided with a heavy ilange at its lower end, to sustain the semicircular weights Gr1 G2 G3 G4, which are disposed around the cylinder as required. The ends of the cylinder G are closed by stuffing-boxes H and H', fitted, respectively, to the different diameters of the shaft F, and sliding freely thereon, so that when duidpressure is exerted Within the cylinder the tendency of the cylinder will beto rise upon the shaft, because its capacity to contain the lluid will thereby be increased.

When not in use the cylinder G rests upon the Wooden postsK K, which are sustained in sockets provided for this purpose in the base-plate A. These posts are intended to be slightly elastic, to relieve the shock ofthe descending cylinder in case all the fluid Within it should be suddenly withdrawn.` The fluid is admitted to and Withdrawn from the interior ofthe cylinder G by means of the hole L and cross-holes L' L', Fig. l5. The connection ofthe supply and delivery pipe with this hole is shown in section in Fig. 16, the "pipe M serving both for supply and delivery, while the pipe M', being connected with the pumps, serves as a supply-pipe only. The pumping machinery and the accumulator being neces- A-,sarily heavy, they are from this canse alone not well adapted `to the requirements of portability, so that I prefer to make this portion of the apparatus stationary, and provide a iiexible joint-connecting pipe between the accumulator and the riveter. These joints are exhibited in Figs. 8,9, and 16. The universal joint shown in Figs. 8 and 16l consists of a short pipe, N, bent at right angles, the ends closed and provided-respectively with a nut and Washer faced against a shoulder on the pipe, provided for this purpose. A short distance Within the washer the exterior of the pipe is turned cylindrical, andis bounded by a collar cast With the pipe and faced true with the Washer, so that the pipe is thus provided with a journal at each end. Through the center of each journal, and at right angles to the axis thereof, a hole, N', 'is drilled, which crosses and connects with the hole N2 in'the pipe, forming a communication through the pipe from the outside of one journal to the outside of the other. Each journal is surrounded by a collar, P, Which is tted to turn freely about the journal, and has a recess to receive a. leather ring or other suitable packing at each end, which is covered by the collar and Washer respectively. These serve to maintain the packing in place, which prevents the escape of liuid under pressure Within the pipe. Upon Athe outside of this collar aprojection,

P', is cast, which is tted to receive the coupling-screw collar and packing of the connecting-pipe, and in the center of which .a hole is bored to connect `with a groove around the interior of the collar P, which establishes `a communication With the hole N', in Whatever position the projection P' may be placed. The combination l of the two journals at right angles with each other on the pipe N, with their Vrespective collars `P P, permits the connecting-pipes to be arranged parallel with or I at any angle With each other; but ifa traverse of the riveter in one plane only is required,'

the joint may be rendered more compact by making the pipe N straight, and the journals upon its ends about a common axis. Another form of universal joint, but of more limited angularity, is shovvn` in Figs. 9 and 16, representin g a ba-ll-and-socket joint, in which a cupleather packing is secured to the ball and plays freely against the interior of the socket, the liuid pressure Within which forces the packing against the sides of the socket and prevents the escape of iluid at any angle Within which the joint can vibrate. One end of the delivery-pipe M is attached, as shown,

to the dilierential plunger F. The number and character of the flexible joints required will y be determined by the varying circumstances in which the riveter is required to be used, and the connection ofthe pipewith the riveter is made with the coupling-joint shown in Figs. 14 and 16. The hall-andsocket universaljoint connection shown in Figs. 9 and 16 is particularly desirable at the end of the pipe next the riveter, as it gives entire freedom of lnotionwithin a limited range, without manipulation, While the more rigid, but at the -same time more extended, range of motion obtained by the joint shown in Figs. 8 and 16 adapts it to such parts of the pipe a's are less frequently moved.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

being admitted to the valvecase b which is in connection with the accumulator, through the pipe z', will exert pressure upon the piston h in the retracting-cylinder, and, until the inlet-valve b is opened, will maintain the parts of the machine in the same relative position represented in Fig. l, in which the riveting-die and the holder are drawn apart to permit the insertion of the rivet. Vhen this is properly heated and inserted, and the machine is in place, the inlet-valve bvis opened by the operator by means of the handle m. The water presses upon the piston C, which is forced continuously outward, carrying with it the retracting-piston h', forcing the water out of the retracting-cylinder into the inlet-pipe, and compressing the rivet between the die and holder f and j". When the rivet has been compressed the handle m is reversed by the operator, so as to shut the inlet and open the outlet valve, this shutting` of the inlet-valve being performed in the preferred construction by the spring and fluid pressure. When this has taken place the constant pressure upon the piston C through the retracting-piston 71/ will expel the water from the compressingcylinder, withdraw the socket-die and holder from the rivet, and open the levers in readiness for the insertion of a second rivet and a repetition of the operation.

I contemplate, under certain circumstances, using direct-acting dies and holders, or a movable die and stationary holder, instead of mounting them upon levers of the third order,

as hereinbefore described. Such adaptations,

however, being within the skill 4of the constructor, I only deem it necessary to indicate one form of such modification, which will be found represented in Figs. l0 and 11 of the accompanying drawings. I also contemplate using a single valve, which shall act both as v an inlet and an outlet valve, as is well understood; and I also contemplate using any known form of inlet-valve applied between the accumulator and the compressing-cylinder, so long as such valve is so constructed and applied that it may be opened by the operator to admit the pressure upon the piston of the compressing-cylinder, or to close the communication between that cylinder and the accumulator, when desired. I also contemplate using any known form of eduction or outlet valve, provided it can close the compressing-cylinder, or open the same, to let water escape, at the will of the operator, and I also intend to retract the piston ofthe compressing-cylinder in any known way, by springs, or counterweights, or otherwise; and in using other forms of valves than those herein specially described I intend, at times, to make them independent of each other in their action.

I havev shown and described my invention in its application to riveting only, as such work involves all the features of my improvements; but I contemplate substituting for the riveting die and holder a punch and die or a shearing knife or knives, according to requirements, and I claim the combinations hereinafter specified, including such substitutions. In either of these cases it will be necessary to provide a suitable stop to arrest the motion after the performance of the work, as will be readily understood by constructors of such` machinery as that to which my invention appertains.

I am aware that in English Letters Patent, No. 1,055, dated April 9, 1867, to Daniel Joseph Fleetwood, there is shown and described a hydraulic press for shaping spoons, forks, &c., in which the dies are brought together by the action of water admitted from a low-pressure accumulator and the shaping pressure is given by a high-pressure accumulator. In this machine the hi gli-pressure accumulator which performs the work communicates with the compressing-cylinder through a self-actin g valve, while my machine demands for its operation, as described, a valve not self-actin g, but moved by the operator. Moreover, this self-acting valve requires for its operation a pressure in the accumulator greater'than is demanded for performing the work, this valve graduating the pressure, while in my machine there is no excess of pressure, and the graduation of the pressure is effected by the accumulator itself. In Fleetwoods machine the pressure cannot be maintained upon the work, nor can the die be withdrawn at will, the self-acting valve operating to withdraw the die as soon as the requisite pressure is reached, while in my ma chine the pressure is maintained, or the die is withdrawn only at the will of the operator. In Fleetwoods machine the retracting-cylinder is not in constant communication with the accumulator; but the operation requires the interposition of a self-acting valve, while in my machine no valve of any kind is required. I accordingly disclaim theparts and combinations shown and described in Fleetwoods patent, as being essentially different in construction and operation from my system; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a cylinder and a piston, a riveting-die and a holder, an inlet and an outlet valve, and an accumulator, the coinbination being and operating substantially as set forth. t

2. The combination of a cylinder and a piston, a riveting-die and a holder, a retractingcylinder, and an accumulator, the combination heilig and operating substantially as set forth.

3. 'Ihe combination of the compressing-cylinder, its piston, and two levers, one carrying a die and the other a holder, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a compressing-cylinder, its piston, two levers, and an adjustable connection, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of two levers of the ure.ball-and-socket-joint connection, substam third order, provided with hellend-socket tiallyas described, a-nd shoWninFigs.9andl6.

supports at one end, and a die and a. holder at the other, substantially als Vand for the pur- RALPH HART TWEDDELL' poses set forth. Witnesses:

` 6. The flexible self-packing hydraulic-press- RoBT. SMART,

ure cylindrical-joint connection, substantially 1S John Street, SunderZauMNowy Public. a-s described, and shown in Figs. 8 and 16. THOS. LAMB,

7. 'The flexible self-packing hydraulic-press- Clerk to M1'. Smart. 

